The police would not comment on a report by the Labour Party media that they were investigating for fraud a Sicilian man who claims he and his son were beaten by officers.
Fabrizio ScirèA day after timesofmalta.com posted footage showing members of the police rapid intervention unit appearing to be punching Fabrizio Scirè and manhandling his son in Żebbuġ, One News quoted police sources saying Mr Scirè was being investigated for alleged fraud and that he was expected to be arraigned.
Police Inspector Sandro Camilleri, president of the Police Officers Union within the General Workers’ Union, spoke with the Labour TV station and denied the Italians had been manhandled.
He branded the footage “a complete invention” and accused Mr Scirè of being aggressive vis-à-vis the police.
A police spokesman said when contacted the law precluded the force from disseminating information on ongoing investigations. This is the stock reply the police give in such situations though there were exceptions.
In March 2016, for example, they had issued a statement saying they were not investigating the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri, and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi in connection with money laundering claims.
Mr Scirè’s lawyer said on Tuesday his client had not been informed of any investigation involving him and had not been summoned by the police for questioning.
“The report by One News came as a complete surprise to my client,” he said.
When the ‘beatings’ video appeared, the police had confirmed that an internal investigation had been launched. The government had also announced that a magisterial inquiry was under way and that it could lead to action depending on its conclusion.
None of the officers involved in the alleged Żebbuġ incident are known to have been suspended.
In a similar case in 2007, when a police officer was caught on video kneeing a French woman in her chest, he was immediately suspended pending an inquiry.